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If there’s one Korean beauty product I love most, it’s got to be CC cream. This beautiful little number does everything a BB cream or beauty balm does, but adds complexion-enhancing color correction. It’s essentially a foundation plus moisturizer in one. So if, like me, your skin isn’t quite ready to face the world with just a bit of moisturizer, and you need a little help to get your skin tone balanced and even (and maybe even cover a few blemishes), then a CC cream is your new best friend.

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There are so many wonderful natural and organic products on the market, and I’m a big fan of each and every one I review on Indigo+Canary. But there are always a few extra-special products that I find myself thinking about well after my review has been completed, that I go back to over and over again. Here are my seven favorites from 2012 (in no particular order).

Broo Shampoo & Conditioner. I still love everything that originally attracted me to these products. When I’m not testing out a new shampoo or conditioner, they are what I come back to, especially now that my hair is starting to be a bit on the dry side. (Side note: my sister now swears by these two products, too. Success!)

Balancing Facial Serum by Co-Op 108. For me, 2012 was definitely The Year of the Facial Oil. I discovered that it works so well, even on my tending-to-oily skin. Now, a great facial oil is part of my daily complexion plan. I love Co-Op 108’s blend for its lightness, ingredients, and that it smells ever-so-faintly of lemongrass.

Acure Organics Cell Stimulating Facial Mask. If you’re looking for an affordable natural facial mask, this one from Acure is a great option. You can get a bunch of applications out of this large jar. It’s so thick and luxurious, it feels spa-quality. And your skin will look and feel smoother and softer once you rinse it off.

Andalou Naturals Citrus Kombucha Cleansing Gel. I use this foaming gel with my fingers and my Clarisonic—it works equally well. I have witnessed this cleanser’s ability to clear up my skin without drying it out, and I love that I can close the pump to easily pack it for travel.

I’m always on the lookout for new facial cleansers, especially ones that are gentle but still effective on my dreaded hormonal acne. So when Alex from Andalou Naturals reached out* to see if I’d be interested in testing out one of their products, I zeroed in on their clarifying cleanser, which is meant for normal, oily skin. (That’s me.)

First impressions: It’s pleasantly foamy, and smells, well, citrus-y! In fact, this cleanser contains lemon juice, Vitamin C, apple extract (apparently from a rare Swiss apple) and the extract of French Burgundy grapes for their renewal and regeneration properties, plus antioxidants from a cocktail of berries including acai, aronia, bearberry, bilberry, black elderberry, goji, rosehips, and sea buckthorn. Some of these berries, like aronia (also known as “chokeberry”) are completely new to me, and as I researched them, I discovered that there are a TON of berries out there that I’ve never heard of. Did you know that the bilberry is associated with the improvement of night vision? Me either.

What caught me by surprise: I couldn’t smell the kombucha at all. If you’re not familiar with it, kombucha is the yeast that goes into kombucha tea, a fermented concoction of tea, sugar, bacteria, and yeast—and it can be kind of stinky. First created in China thousands of years ago, it’s long been touted for its health benefits, including boosting the immune system, preventing cancer, and improving digestion, although there is some debate as to its effectiveness. When it comes to skincare benefits, I don’t think it’s a stretch that the yeast’s active enzymes might help clarify your skin in a way that’s similar to how probiotics in yogurt help balance your digestive system. And like other kinds of tea, it’s also an antioxidant, and works to firm and brighten skin.

Bonus: After using this product for a while, I’ve definitely noticed a difference in my skin, especially when it comes to a few problem areas. In particular, I had a flare-up of dry, flaky skin along my temple, and it has completely disappeared. (Sweet!)

Have you tried any of the products from Andalou Naturals? Do you seek out products containing kombucha? —Aleigh